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See the Sights: Our Guide to a Berlin River Cruise

Discover Berlin from water level on a Berlin River Cruise

The River Spree is the main artery of Berlin, with many important buildings and stunning sights strung out along its twisting 250 km long stretch. Take to the water, give your feet a rest and see the German capital differently from a Berlin River Cruise – find out everything you need to know below.

Price

The Berlin River Cruise tour is free for Berlin Pass holders, however regular adult tickets are priced at €12 and €6 for children. Bilingual commentary in English and German of the River Spree’s best sights are also provided in the form of a free audio guide.

Duration

A standard tour runs for an hour and they run daily from 28 March to 2 November. Cruises depart at 11.15, 11.45, 12.45, 13.15, 14.15, 15.45, 17.15, 17.45, 18.45, 19.15 and riders are recommended to arrive early to ensure the cruise leaves on time.

Hop on Hop Off Point

To board the Berlin River Cruise, riders should head to the Alte Bӧrse Pier, Burgstrasse, 10178 Berlin.

What You’ll See

Easily identifiable by its turquoise domes, this Berlin cathedral is one of the most spiritual places in the city (and the most distinctive). As the largest cathedral in the capital, it’s the heart of Protestantism in Germany and is iconic for its neo-Baroque facade amidst the other stunning structures of Museum Island. Beautiful by both day and night, it’s worth heading over to explore its elegant interiors and seeing the city from the top of its tall domes after your cruise.

Museum Island

Home to some of Berlin’s highest cultural institutions, Museum Island is one of the highlights of the river boat cruise with beautiful structures and landscapes packed onto the little district. Catch a glimpse of the tall pillars of the neoclassical Pergamon Museum, packed with centuries of antiquities, and other significant museums such as Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and the Bode Museum. Keep an eye out for the Berliner Dom as well, mentioned below.

As arguably the most famous landmark in Berlin, the Reichstag is also where German politics continues to thrive besides being a popular tourist attraction. Known for its controversial juxtaposition of historical architectural elements and a gigantic futuristic glass dome installed in the 90s, it’s one of the most striking buildings in the capital and visitors can even slip into the glass dome for a view over Berlin.

TV Tower

Slicing straight up into the sky, Berlin’s needle-like TV Tower is the tallest building in Germany and can be easily spotted from the river cruise. At a whopping great height of 368 metres, it dominates the skyline and has become synonymous with Berlin much in the same way the Eiffel Tower has come to define Paris.